I am glad that I am not alone in thinking that the National Challenge is mechanistic, simplistic and superficial...

I have been working on school improvement for over twenty years and I know some people will ask why haven't we cracked it and already delivered brilliant learning and fantastic outcomes everywhere. I wish it were that easy...

What we haven't tackled or cracked is poverty, deprivation, worklessness and the common factors that conspire against us and prevent young people achieving good outcomes however hard we work. I have also learned from countless school visits over the years that talented colleagues here in Leeds and amazing colleagues up and down the country are releasing the magic and driving up standards and outcomes in some of the most challenging contexts.

Interestingly reading the Times Educational Supplement over the last couple of months it's encouraging to know that they have carried out similar research to us and learned what we all already know...that many of the schools where 'radical measures' are needed are achieving fantastic results when you look more intelligently at their outcomes. Several of our 'National Challenge' schools have received letters from ministers congratulating them on being among the most improved and most effective schools in the country. These schools are now being told that they may be closed. Where on earth is the intelligent accountability?

We are also told that the 'National Challenge' brings additional and very welcome additional resources to these schools. Think what we could do if each of these schools working in areas of poverty, deprivation, worklessness, crime and ill-health recieved their fair share of the additional money. However in our political world where the answer is academies and super-consultants we are likely to end up with more people telling us that they know all the answers. If so, why aren't they with us already on the front line working in challenging authorities and these schools making a real difference?

Those of us who have spent our lives at the front line know the real answers lie where they have always been...

• strong, disciplined, focused and passionate leadership;
• clear, shared vision, values and beliefs;
• talented, energetic, enthusiastic and creative teaching teams;
• empowered, trusted and disciplined colleagues;
• brilliant teaching supported by strong assessment for learning;
  
• stimulating, exciting and engaging curriculum pathways;
• powerful, stimulating and interesting learning environments;
• high self-esteem and high expectations of everyone;
• strong, dynamic and meaningful coaching relationships;
• high engagement and involvement of young people;
• positive engagement and involvement of parents and carers.

My answers to the challenges we face? Radically reduce the number of people who work for the DCSF, Government Office, National Strategies, National College for School Leadership and all the other quangos and bits of the empire. Cut down on meetings. Trust and invest in local authorities and schools as the front line of an attack on poverty, deprivation, worklessness and under-achievement.

Of course in a world where appearing tough and delivering soundbites is seen as important, these things don't matter and sadly it will never happen.
Chris

Sometimes I think that we are 'painting by numbers' in a world monitored, policed and controlled by 'bean' counters, 'keep within the line' consultants and 'let's weigh the pig again' inspectors...

In this crazy world to meet their targets the 'bean' counters, the 'keep within the line' consultants and the 'let's weigh the pig again' inspectors rush around developing more and more initiatives that no one owns and that make little or no real long term difference to outcomes for our children and young people... and sadly in that sort of world, the evidence suggests that all you get is mediocre.

We all know that command and control doesn't work and we all need to wake up to the fact that what really, really matters is the quality of the people working with our children and young people, the quality of the leadership around them and the quality of the local services supporting our brilliant learning places. So let us nurture and support our learning teams to ensure that they deliver for our children and young people and let's take the best of what we do here in Leeds and learn from the best practice nationally and internationally; from Reggio Emilia, and from Sweden, Finland and Denmark and anywhere that will help us to build brilliant local provision.
Chris.

Stress is of course something we all live with but I am told that diet can play a significant and important part in improving your physical and emotional well-being...

So to quote the article "if stess is turning you into a moody chocoholic insomniac here is what you need to do"...

• Never skip meals. Eat three low-GL meals a day with snacks if necessary.

• Increase your magnesium intake... magnesium helps the body make energy, balance blood-sugar levels and maintain healthy blood pressure.... magnesium is found in green vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and pulses.

• Increase your intake of vitamins B5 and C... stress reduces these vitamins. B5 is found in eggs, fish, meat, lentils and whole grains. C is found in berries, broccoli, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes and all fruit and vegetables.

• Increase your serotonin levels... eat yoghurt, bananas, figs and dates and drink milk.

• Eat oats for breakfast!

• Reduce the amount of caffeine, sugar and alcohol!

• Take exercise but don't overdo it!

So, this holiday, look after yourself; de-stress and unwind whenever you can.

Chris

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets"...

I love that quote and at times like this when the challenges increase I realise how many fantastic people there are in my world... my family, my friends and colleagues. It's true by the way that you should love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don’t because they are simply not worth the effort. I am not sure at the moment that I can believe that everything happens for a reason but I do know that if you get a chance, you should take it and if it changes your life, let it.

Nobody promised that my life or your life would be easy, but I hope that the journey I am about to embark upon with the people I love will be worth it.
Chris

"One small action from you today, can help create a greener tomorrow."

British Gas have launched 'Generation Green' a schools and communities programme which aims to provide educational resources, help your school to save energy and money and reduce your school's carbon footprint. To find out more visit their website at generationgreen.co.uk.
CHris

Perhaps it's me? Do you sit in meetings and wonder why you are there? I am a very simple and straightforward sort of person. I like to keep things simple and I basically hate meetings...

I have had a series of meetings where I really can't see what has been achieved and I wonder why I was there; especially when research shows that we can't concentrate for more than about fifteen minutes at a time.. I often sit there afterwards and think what did that achieve, what value did it add and what am I going to do differently as a result and the answers are generally depressing. My colleagues tell me that meetings are important; if not essential elements of what we do. If that is true, and to be honest I need convincing,my question is how do we improve our meetings and ensure that we are making the best use of our precious time.

I have started to ask myself some questions about each of the meetings I attend and I would encourage you to do the same. Simply ask yourself...

• Is this meeting necessary?
• Do I need to be at this meeting?
  
• What do we expect to achieve at this meeting?
• Could we do achieve the same outcomes in any other way?
  
• What would happen if this meeting didn't take place?
• Could these meetings take place less often?

Chris

Design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning.

"The last few decades have belonged to a certain kind of person with a certain kind of mind... computer programmers who could crank code, lawyers who could craft contracts, MBAs who could crunch numbers. But the keys to the kingdom are changing hands. The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind - creators and empathisers, pattern recognisers and meaning makers. These people - artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, consolers, big picture thinkers - will now reap society's richest rewards and share it's greatest joys."

If you haven't read 'A Whole New Mind' by Dan Pink you have missed an extraordinary book that looks at how we have moved from an agriculture age through an industrial age to an information age and are now entering a conceptual age. The challenge we all face is to understand that abundance, automation and the impact of globalisation means that knowledge workers need to develop skills and abilities to make them unique and different.

Dan Pink's brilliant book offers a fresh look at what it takes to excel in this new conceptual age. 'A Whole New Mind' identifies the six skills on which, Dan argues, our professional success and our personal fulfillment now critically depend, and includes a series of hands-on exercises to help us develop the necessary abilities. These six skills are design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning.

This book not only changes how we see the world but how we experience it as well. Read this book and visit Dan's website at http://www.danpink.com
Chris

It's only a Game!

Last night's European Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United was a fantastic advert for the beautiful game and funnily enough someone had asked me in the lift yesterday morning what result I wanted...

I said I'd like a 3:3 draw after extra time and penalties and to be honest it certainly could have been 3:3... first half to Manchester United, second half to Chelsea... and anyone could have won it. The person I feel for this morning is John Terry who played brilliantly and then slipped and missed the penalty. The sign of true greatness is how he manages to pick himself up and get back on the field to do better... and we can all learn from his example, his courage, his passion, his commitment and his despair. Someone told me once that it doesn't matter whether you win or lose until you lose!
Chris

Attitude

I received a card from an old colleague today...

Sue Matthews, a colleague from my days in York, sent me this message...
Chris, Read your blog... saw this... and thought of you! Sue
P.S. Great blog!

The quote on the card read...
"ATTITUDE
Things turn out best
for people who make the best
of the way things turn out."

Thanks Sue
Chris

Don't Quit!

It has been tough recently so if you don't know this poem it is worth a read as we all struggle through the challenges life throws at us...

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

You can watch a brief presentation based on this poem at http://www.thedontquitpoem.com/

'Mavericks at Work'

I read this great book over the bank holiday weekend...

"Mavericks at Work' by William Taylor and Polly Labarre is a wonderful read and explains the success of companies across the world whose unconventional ideas and groundbreaking strategies help us to think bigger, aim higher and deliver better services.

They ask us to consider these questions:

• do we have a distinct sense of purpose that sets us apart?
• do we have a unique and compelling language and vocabulary?
• are we sufficiently focused on the long term mission?
• why should great colleagues join us?
• do we know great colleagues when we see them?
• do we teach our colleagues what works and what wins?
  
• if we disappeared tomorrow as a company who would miss us and why?

Answers to chris.edwards@educationleeds.co.uk
Chris

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change
our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."

Charles Swindoll

Do things to make people feel special

"Think, reflect, research, analyse and learn.
Be visible, accessible and available;
Walk the talk and constantly connect with colleagues;
Tell stories; celebrate, praise and challenge;
Teach, coach and model behaviours you want to see;
Get a life... live, love and regularly escape;
Do things to make people feel special."

The Future!

"The future is a blank canvas, you’re free everyday to paint it as you wish."

You can choose to paint a bleak picture…but is that's your choice? The Investment in Excellence programme teaches us that if you can see it, hear it or feel it, you can go to it.

So what you want in the future?

Be grateful!

What are you grateful for in your life right now?

One of the most uplifting qualities I know of in any of my colleagues and friends is gratitude... simply recognising that you are blessed in so many ways and saying thank you to everyone who in some small way does it for you. No matter who, where and when you are, the fact that you’re here at Education Leeds, means that you have at least one thing you can be grateful about in your life right now. Not talking about settling for what you have, but acknowledging it, appreciating the positives, knowing that there are so many good things in your life, will help you attract even more. Your attitude makes a real difference, and if millionaires can be depressed, and prisoners of war can be cheerful, you have enough power to change how you feel about yourself, your life and your work.

Problem Solving

Most people believe that it’s essential to know everything about a problem before they can change or sort things out. ‘If only I knew why I’m so... unfortunate, unlucky, unsuccessful... I’d be able to change my life’. Unfortunately, this isn’t true because understanding does not always create change. Solutions are usually new ideas injected into the existing situation. A belief like this often fosters the ‘paralysis of analysis’, encouraging too much navel gazing that makes people do the exact opposite of the following belief you need to overcome difficult times… Remember that it is not necessary to understand the cause of a problem to solve it.

The 80:20 Rule

If you spend 80% of your time focusing on the problem and only 20% on the solution what do you think is going to happen? It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to be a defeatist. You need to make it so it’s even easier to answer the question ’so what are you doing about it?’
Spend only 20% of your time on what’s wrong, and 80% on what’s right.

I am sorry but I need a break!

The blog is going to go quiet for couple of weeks while I unwind and get rid of the knots, recharge the batteries and gear myself up for another year in Leeds. Take care and look after yourself while I am gone.
Chris

There is no way to happiness.

Happiness is the way, so, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special...

"So, stop waiting...

• until you finish school,
  
• until you go back to school,
  
• until you lose ten pounds,
  
• until you gain ten pounds,
  
• until you have kids,
  
• until your kids leave,
  
• until you start work,
  
• until you retire,
  
• until you get married,
  
• until you get divorced,
  
• until Friday night,
  
• until Monday morning,
  
• until you get a new car,
  
• until your car is paid off,
  
• until spring,
  
• until summer,
  
• until autumn,
  
• until winter,
  
• until the first or fifteenth,
  
• until your song comes on,
  
• until you've had a drink,
  
• until you've sobered up,
  
• until you die,
  
• until...

Remember there is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So...

• Work like you don't need money,
  
• Love like you've never been hurt, and
  
• Dance like no one's watching."

~Author Unknown~

It's Your Choice!

The potential to be exceptional exists within everyone. There are no exceptions. Being exceptional is not defined by what you have or what you do, rather it depends critically on your attitude and the decisions you make...

Extraordinary achievers are ordinary people who make extraordinary decisions about the events in their lives. Your decisions drive your destiny and shape your future. What decisions did you make that have shaped where you are today? If you are dissatisfied with today, what decisions are you willing to make ... right now ... to create a different tomorrow?

It would be easy to justify reasons for other peoples success–- such as lucky breaks, better education, wealthy parents, etc. Yet the truth of the matter is attitude makes the difference between extraordinary achievements and mediocre results. All exceptional achievers make clear deliberate decisions about themselves, their future and their role in the world.

While you can’t change your past and the challenges in your present may “seem” insurmountable, almost every aspect about your future is yet to be decided. Do you choose a path of struggle, hard work,misery and mediocrity? Or do you choose to rewrite your future and become exceptional … however you define that?

The choice is yours.
Chris